Lychee.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Moyenne

Type de plante

Tropical fruit tree

Lumière

Full sun

Lumière en intérieur

Soleil direct

Arrosage

Tous les 3 à 7 jours

Taille adulte

10 to 12 meters

Croissance

Moyenne

Rusticité

USDA 9 à 11

Floraison

Late winter to early spring

Entretien

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged to ensure healthy fruit production. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal poor drainage or nutrient deficiencies. Provide plenty of humidity to mimic its native tropical environment.

Arrosage

Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Engrais

Apply a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season to support fruit development.

Taille

Prune lightly after harvest to maintain shape and encourage new growth for the next season.

Rempotage

Repot young trees every few years into a slightly larger container with fresh, rich potting mix.

Sol

Deep, well drained, acidic soil

pH du sol

5.0 to 6.5

Température

0 à 40°C

Humidité

60 à 90%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Faible

Durée de vie

Perennial, can live for over 100 years.

Parfum

Léger

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Moyenne

Sécurité

Humains

The seeds contain hypoglycin A, which can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.

Enfants

The hard, round seeds pose a significant choking hazard to small children.

Allergènes de contact

The rough, bumpy skin of the fruit can be irritating to sensitive skin.

Allergènes aéroportés

Pollen from the flowers may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals.

Comestibilité

The fruit is delicious, but the seed is inedible and should be discarded.

Comment l'identifier

• Glossy dark green pinnate leaves
• Rough textured red outer skin
• Sweet translucent white fruit flesh
• Small clusters of inconspicuous flowers

Hauteur

6 à 12m

Envergure

4 à 9m

Feuilles

dark green, evergreen

Fleurs

yellowish green, 0,5 à 1cm

Fruits

red, pink, Late spring to summer

Problèmes courants

• Lychee erinose mite — Causes velvety galls on the undersides of leaves.
• Anthracnose — Fungal infection causing dark spots on fruit and leaves.

La cultiver

Multiplication

air layering, seed, grafting

Quand planter

spring, early autumn

Hivernage

Protect young trees from frost with covers. Mature trees can handle light chill but need protection from freezing temperatures.

En pot

Dwarf varieties can grow in large containers, but they generally prefer being planted in the ground.

Planting nitrogen fixing ground covers nearby helps support the high nutrient needs of the tree.

Bonnes associations

• Mango — They share similar climate and soil requirements.
• Papaya — It provides light shade for young lychee trees.

Espèces similaires

• Longan — It is a close relative with similar growth habits and fruit structure.
• Rambutan — It is another tropical fruit tree in the same family.

Science

Famille

Sapindaceae

Genre

Litchi

Ordre

Sapindales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Southern China and Southeast Asia.

Préservation

Not currently of conservation concern.

It thrives in humid, subtropical environments with distinct seasonal temperature changes to trigger flowering.

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, coléoptères

Utilisations

culinary fruit, ornamental shade tree, dried fruit

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Do I need two trees to get fruit?

No, lychee trees are self fertile.

How long until a tree bears fruit?

Grafted trees usually fruit in 3 to 5 years, while seedlings take much longer.

D'où vient le nom

The name comes from the Chinese word 'li-chi', while the scientific name 'chinensis' refers to its origin in China.

Bon à savoir

• Lychees have been cultivated in China for over 2,000 years.
• The fruit is technically a drupe with a translucent, juicy aril.
• They are a symbol of romance and love in many Asian cultures.
• A single tree can produce hundreds of pounds of fruit in a good year.